AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1928, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

(Australian Press Association.) | SWISS HOSTILITY. ; TO AUSTRALIAN MANUFAC- , TUBERS. SYDNEY, Aug. 9. 'fhe remarkably hostile reception given in Switzerland to an Australian, who had gone there for the purpose of purchasing some • machinery, was recounted by Mr E. Tilley, managing director of Hanley and Tilley, Ltd., watch case makers, of Melbourne, who returned by the Moldavia. ITe arrived in Switzerland, he said, in March for the purpose of purchasing modern plant for the manufacture of watch cases. When the Association of Watch Case -Manufacturers were advised from an Australian source that there was in Switzerland a representative of an Australian watch case manufacturing firm, it published in the daily newspaper at La Cliaux de Fends an appeal to the local manufacturers not to aid foreigners to transplant the watchmaking industry abroad. “All the firms with whom 1 had placed orders for machinery,” Air Tilley continued, “were informed that if they supnliod my orders they would be called before the association, and would not lie accorded the support of the association in future. I then went to Borne, where fhe same thing occurred. and f was one of the most talked about men in Switzerland. Certain firms outside the association got into touch with me, and I secured all the plant I required. T. hoard that steps had been taken to induce the police to deport mo as an undesirable trader, in the same way as three Japanese and a Canadian were deported some months previously, so I left Switzerland.”

GRAFT INQUIRY. SYDNEY, Aug. 17

At the Coal Commission, Woof continuing his evidence, said that during fifteen years in the service of the City Council, his savings grow from £2500 to -i-9000. He had £IO,OOO out on mortgage. Before coming to Australia from England, he had been in a position of paying graft money instead of receiving it. Since the commission had been appointed ex-Alderman Stokes had telephoned witness to moot him hut on his solicitor’s advice lie did not do so. Witness desired to give all the assistance he could in clearing matters up, though he had not been gu ara n teed imm nil i tv. Ajnswering a question whether a certain person was a grafter. Woof said : “Wo did not mention graft. AVe were rather sensitive about it.” In one case, when the manager of a certain coal company paid him money the manager kept a portion of it for himself. SEARCHERS’ DISCOVER Y. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY. August 18. Kosciusko searchers found footsteps believed to have I icon made by the missing men. Three planes are engaged for the search to-morrow.